Motorized-surfboard-based water motorcycle

ABSTRACT

A water motorcycle includes a motorized surfboard unit having a deck portion and driven by a drive motor, and a motorbike frame unit detachably mounted on the deck portion by means of retaining hook units. The motorbike frame unit includes a seat module provided with a rider&#39;s seat, and a handle module provided with an upright handlebar frame. The surfboard unit can be used independently for surfing or combined with the motorbike frame unit to function as a water motorcycle.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Taiwanese Patent Application No.100133197, filed on Sep. 15, 2011, the disclosure of which is hereinincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a water motorcycle, more particularly to amotorized-surfboard-based water motorcycle which can serve as asurfboard or a water motorcycle.

2. Description of the Related Art

There are a variety of watercrafts, such as motorized surfboards, watermotorcycles, etc., which can be employed for water sport activities. Aconventional watercraft generally includes a board or a seat to permit auser to stand, sit or lie thereon, and a control handle for actuatingand controlling a drive motor. A user who wants to enjoy different watersport activities needs to have various kinds of watercrafts, whichentails the problem of storage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide amotorized-surfboard-based water motorcycle which can be configured tofunction as a surfboard or a water motorcycle.

According to this invention, the motorized-surfboard-based watermotorcycle includes a motorized surfboard unit and a motorbike frameunit. The motorized surfboard unit includes a surfboard hull modulewhich has nose and tail ends, a deck portion disposed between the noseand tail ends and having a deck surface. The deck portion has front andrear regions, and a juncture region interposed therebetween. A drivemotor is disposed below the deck surface for propelling the surfboardhull module. The motorbike frame unit includes a seat module and ahandle module. The seat module extends in a longitudinal direction toterminate at forward and rearward marginal regions which are disposedadjacent to the juncture region and the rear region, respectively, in anassembled position. The handle module includes a handlebar erectingframe extending to terminate at a rear end which is connected with theforward marginal region, and a front end which is releasably secured toa securing site on the front region proximate to the nose end so as topermit the handlebar erecting frame to be displaced to the assembledposition. The handlebar frame is connected to the handlebar erectingframe, and has a handlebar end which is configured to be in an uprightposition when the handlebar erecting frame is displaced to the assembledposition.

The motorized-surfboard-based water motorcycle further includes a frontretaining hook unit configured to bring the front end into aposition-locking engagement with the securing site, and a rear retaininghook unit configured to bring the rearward marginal region into aposition-locking engagement with the tail end.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent in the following detailed description of the preferredembodiments of the invention, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of amotorized-surfboard-based water motorcycle according to this inventionin an assembled state;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the first embodiment when a seat module ismounted on a surfboard hull module;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged side view showing a front retaininghook unit of the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view showing a rightretaining hook unit of the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of amotorized-surfboard-based water motorcycle according to this inventionin an assembled state;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the second embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged side view showing a front retaininghook unit of the second embodiment; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view showing a rightretaining hook unit of the second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it shouldbe noted that same reference numerals have been used to denote likeelements throughout the specification.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the first embodiment of amotorized-surfboard-based water motorcycle according to the presentinvention is shown to comprise a motorized surfboard unit 1 and amotorbike frame unit 2.

The motorized surfboard unit 1 includes a surfboard hull module 11, adrive motor 6, an electrically conductive cable 4, and rear, front, leftand right retaining hook units.

The surfboard hull module 11 has nose and tail ends 111, 112 opposite toeach other in a longitudinal direction, a deck portion 16 which isdisposed between the nose and tail ends 111, 112 and which has a decksurface 161 that is configured to permit a rider to stand, sit or liethereon for surfing. The deck surface 161 has front and rear regions162, 163 proximate to the nose and tail ends 111, 112, respectively, anda juncture region 164 interposed between the front and rear regions 162,163. The drive motor 6 is disposed in an interior of the deck portion 16below the deck surface 161 for propelling the surfboard hull module 11.The electrically conductive cable 4 is electrically coupled with thedrive motor 6 to control the surfboard hull module 11, and extends fromthe front region 162 to be connected to a handgrip 41. The motorizedsurfboard unit 1 may be any kinds of known motorized surfboard.

The motorbike frame unit 2 includes a seat module 21 and a handle module24.

The seat module 21 extends in the longitudinal direction to terminate atforward and rearward marginal regions 211, 212 which are disposedadjacent to the juncture region 164 and the rear region 163,respectively, in an assembled position. In this embodiment, the seatmodule 21 has a saddle shell which is interposed between the forward andrearward marginal regions 211, 212, and which includes a seat member 22,and left and right straddle segments 213, 214 that are disposed to reston the rear region 163, and that are configured to permit the seatmember 22 to be spaced apart from the rear region 163 in an uprightdirection that is transverse to the longitudinal direction.

The handle module 24 includes a handlebar erecting frame 241 and ahandlebar frame 244. The handlebar erecting frame 241 extends in thelongitudinal direction to terminate at a rear end 242 and a front end243. The rear end 242 is pivotally connected with the forward marginalregion 211 about a hinge axis oriented in a transverse direction that istransverse to the longitudinal and upright directions. The front end 243is releasably secured to a securing site on the front region 162 of thedeck surface 161 proximate to the nose end 111 so as to permit thehandlebar erecting frame 241 to be displaced to the assembled position.The handlebar frame 244 has a connected end 245 connected to thehandlebar erecting frame 241, and a handlebar end 246 configured to bedisposed in an upright position when the handlebar erecting frame 241 isdisplaced to the assembled position. The handlebar end 246 is in theform of a transverse rod such as that of a known water motorcycle.

The rear retaining hook unit has a pair of hooking members 31 which isdisposed on the rearward marginal region 212 of the seat module 21 andwhich is configured to downwardly hook on the tail end 112 so as tobring the rearward marginal region 212 into a position-lockingengagement with the tail end 112.

With reference to FIG. 3, the front retaining hook unit includes apositioning ring 13 which is disposed at the securing site on the frontregion 162, a lever 34 which is pivotally mounted on the front end 243of the handlebar erecting frame 241 about a fulcrum axis that isparallel to the hinge axis and which has a retained end 342 and ahooking end 341. The hooking end 341 is configured such that, when theretained end 342 is pressed downward manually, the hooking end 341 isforced upward to hook on the positioning ring 13. A retaining member 35is disposed on the front end 243, and is configured such that,immediately after the retained end 342 is pressed downward, theretaining member 35 is snapped engaged with the retained end 342 tothereby bring the front end 243 into a position-locking engagement withthe securing site on the front region 162.

With reference to FIG. 4, each of the left and right retaining hookunits includes a protrusion 12 which is disposed on the juncture region164, a pressing member 32 which is disposed on a corresponding one ofthe left and right straddle segments 213, 214 to be press-engaged withthe juncture region 164 when the seat module 21 is displaced to theassembled position, and an hooking latch 33 which is pivotally mountedon the pressing member 32 and which is configured to hook on theprotrusion 12 when the pressing member 32 is pressed-engaged with thejuncture region 164, thereby bringing the corresponding one of the leftand right straddle segments 213, 214 into a position-locking engagementwith a corresponding one of left and right peripheral sites on thejuncture region 164.

Referring further to FIGS. 2 and 3, when it is desired to utilize thisembodiment as a water motorcycle, the seat module 21 is firstly mountedon the rear region 163 of the surfboard hull module 11 such that thehooking members 31 of the rear retaining hook unit engage the tail end112, and the pressing members 32 of the left and right retaining hookunits are press-engaged with the juncture region 164 so that the hookinglatches 33 respectively engage the protrusions 12. Thereafter, thehandle module 24 is turned pivotally downward so that the handlebarerecting frame 241 is displaced to the assembled position where thehandlebar frame 244 is in the upright position. The lever 34 issubsequently turned rearward about the fulcrum axis, and by pressing theretained end 342 downward, the hooking end 341 is brought to engage thepositioning ring 13, and the retained end is snap-engaged with theretaining member 35. The handlebar end 246 may be positioned near thehandgrip 41 so that the rider can grip the handlebar end 246 and controlthe drive motor 6 through the electrically conductive cable 4 whenriding.

A power supply, such as a battery 5, may be disposed within the seatmodule 21 to be operably coupled to the drive motor 6.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the second embodiment of themotorized-surfboard-based water motorcycle according to this inventionis similar to the first embodiment in construction. In the secondembodiment, the seat module 21 has a seat mounting member in the form ofa saddle plate which is interposed between the forward and rearwardmarginal regions 211, 212, and which have left and right saddle halves215, 216 that extend away from each other in the transverse direction toterminate at left and right anchoring regions 217, 218, respectively.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the front retaining hook unit includes asecuring stem 15 which is disposed at the securing site on the frontregion 162, a tightening lever 37 which is pivotally mounted to thefront end 243, and a retaining member 35′ which is pivotally mounted tothe tightening lever 37. The retaining member 35′ has a hooking end 351configured to upwardly hook on the securing stem 15. The tighteninglever 37 is operable to bring the hooking end 351 into tighteningengagement with the securing stem 15.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, each of the left and right retaining hookunits includes a securing stem 14 disposed on the juncture region 164, atightening lever 36 which is pivotally mounted to a corresponding one ofthe left and right anchoring regions 217, 218, and a retaining member33′ which is pivotally mounted to the tightening lever 36. The retainingmember 33′ has a hooking end 331 which is configured to upwardly hook onthe securing stem 14. The tightening lever 36 is operable to bring thehooking end 331 of the retaining member 33′ into a tightening engagementwith the securing stem 14, thereby bringing the corresponding one of theleft and right anchoring regions 217, 218 into a position-lockingengagement with a corresponding one of left and right peripheral siteson the juncture region 164.

As illustrated, the motorbike frame unit 2 can be detachably mounted onthe motorized surfboard unit 1 by means of the retaining hook units in aconvenient manner, so that the rider can use the surfboard unitindependently as a surfboard for surfing or use the surfboard unit 1 incombination with the motorbike frame unit 2 as a water motorcycle. Thus,the present invention has the benefits of versatility and space-saving.

While the present invention has been described in connection with whatare considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it isunderstood that this invention is not limited to the disclosedembodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements includedwithin the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretations andequivalent arrangements.

What is claimed is:
 1. A motorized-surfboard-based water motorcyclecomprising a motorized surfboard unit including a surfboard hull modulewhich has nose and tail ends opposite to each other in a longitudinaldirection, a deck portion which is disposed between said nose and tailends and which has a deck surface, and that has front and rear regionsproximate to said nose and tail ends, respectively, and a junctureregion interposed between said front and rear regions, and a drive motordisposed below said deck surface for propelling said surfboard hullmodule; a motorbike frame unit including a seat module which extends inthe longitudinal direction to terminate at forward and rearward marginalregions which are disposed adjacent to said juncture region and saidrear region, respectively, in an assembled position, and a handle moduleincluding a handlebar erecting frame extending in the longitudinaldirection to terminate at a rear end which is connected with saidforward marginal region, and a front end which is releasably secured toa securing site on said front region proximate to said nose end so as topermit said handlebar erecting frame to be displaced to the assembledposition, and a handlebar frame having a connected end which isconnected to said handlebar erecting frame, and a handlebar end which isconfigured to be disposed in an upright position when said handlebarerecting frame is displaced to the assembled position; a front retaininghook unit configured to bring said front end into a position-lockingengagement with said securing site; and a rear retaining hook unitconfigured to bring said rearward marginal region into aposition-locking engagement with said tail end.
 2. Themotorized-surfboard-based water motorcycle as claimed in claim 1,wherein: said motorized surfboard unit includes an electricallyconductive cable which is electrically coupled with said drive motor tocontrol said surfboard hull module, and which extends from said frontregion to be connected to a handgrip; said handlebar end beingconfigured to be positioned near said handgrip when in the uprightposition.
 3. The motorized-surfboard-based water motorcycle as claimedin claim 1, wherein said rear end of said handlebar erecting frame ispivotally connected with said forward marginal region of said seatmodule about a hinge axis oriented in a transverse direction relative tothe longitudinal direction.
 4. The motorized-surfboard-based watermotorcycle as claimed in claim 3, wherein said seat module has a saddleshell interposed between said forward and rearward marginal regions, andincluding a seat member, and left and right straddle segments which reston said rear region, and which are configured to permit said seat memberto be spaced apart from said rear region in an upright direction that istransverse to the longitudinal and transverse directions.
 5. Themotorized-surfboard-based water motorcycle as claimed in claim 4,wherein: said rear retaining hook unit is configured to downwardly hookon said tail end; said front retaining hook unit including a positioningring which is disposed at said securing site, a lever which is pivotallymounted on said front end about a fulcrum axis that is parallel to thehinge axis and which has a retained end and a hooking end configuredsuch that, when said retained end is pressed downward manually, saidhooking end is forced upward to hook on said hooking ring, and aretaining member which is disposed on said front end, and which isconfigured such that, immediately after said retained end is presseddownward, said retaining member is snap-engaged with said retained endto thereby bring said front end into a position-locking engagement withsaid securing site.
 6. The motorized-surfboard-based water motorcycle asclaimed in claim 4, further comprising: a left retaining hook unitconfigured to bring said left straddle segment into a position-lockingengagement with a left peripheral site on said juncture region; and aright retaining hook unit configured to bring said right straddlesegment into a position-locking engagement with a right peripheral siteon said juncture region.
 7. The motorized-surfboard-based watermotorcycle as claimed in claim 6, wherein each of said left and rightretaining hook units includes a protrusion disposed on said junctureregion, a pressing member disposed on a corresponding one of said leftand right straddle segments to be press-engaged with said junctureregion when said seat module is displaced to the assembled position, andan hooking latch pivotally mounted on said pressing member andconfigured to upwardly hook on said protrusion when said left and rightstraddle segments are press-engaged with said juncture region.
 8. Themotorized-surfboard-based water motorcycle as claimed in claim 3,wherein said seat module has a seat mounting member which is interposedbetween said forward and rearward marginal regions, and which have leftand right saddle halves extending away from each other in the transversedirection to terminate at left and right anchoring regions,respectively.
 9. The motorized-surfboard-based water motorcycle asclaimed in claim 8, wherein said rear retaining hook unit is configuredto downwardly hook on said tail end; said front retaining hook unitincluding a securing stem which is disposed at said securing site, aretaining member which is pivotally mounted to said front end and whichhas a hooking end configured to upwardly hook on said securing stem, anda tightening lever which is pivotally mounted to said front end to bringsaid hooking end of said retaining member into a tightening engagementwith said securing stem.
 10. The motorized-surfboard-based watermotorcycle as claimed in claim 8, further comprising: a left retaininghook unit configured to bring said left anchoring region into aposition-locking engagement with a left peripheral site on said junctureregion; and a right retaining hook unit configured to bring said rightanchoring region into a position-locking engagement with a rightperipheral site on said juncture region.
 11. Themotorized-surfboard-based water motorcycle as claimed in claim 10,wherein each of said left and right retaining hook units includes asecuring stem which is disposed on said juncture region, a retainingmember which is pivotally mounted to a corresponding one of said leftand right anchoring regions and which has a hooking end configured toupwardly hook on said securing stem, and a tightening lever which ispivotally mounted to the corresponding one of said left and rightanchoring regions to bring said hooking end of said retaining memberinto a tightening engagement with said securing stem.